Stretcher-frame



(No Model.)

STRETGHER FRAME.

Y Ne. 272,162.A Patented Feb. 13,1883.

y 15u/,ne mcwf xoV UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AARON I). SHATTUCK,`OF GRANBY, CONNECTICUT.

STRETCHER-FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,162, dated February 13, 1883.

Application inea omberz, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it @my concern Be it known that I, AARON D. SHATTUCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Granby, in the county ot' Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements pertaining to Stretcher- Frames, ot' which the following is a specification.

My invention consists ot' a metallic plate and wedge combined, forming a stretcher-key, to he applied to the imiter-joints of trames used b v artists and others for the purpose of stretching canvas and other like material.

Theobject of my invention is tofurnish a secure and substantial fastener for miterjoints, which, united with a wedge driven forward into said joints, shall stretch the canvas or like materia-l when fastened to the stretcherframe, and at the same time hold the frame together. I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Flgure l is a view of the under side of the plateand wedge united. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same; Fig. 3, a perspective view oi' the wedge; Fig. 4, the instrument as it appears when-tiret adjusted to the ruiter-joint, and Figs. 5 and 6 the same device in operation.

The common method of making stretchers heretofore has been with complicated joints, requiring inuch time and skill in their production, and keyed with wooden wedges which were liable to shrink and fall out of place. Other contrivances are in use having springs set within theangles of the frame, which are apt to fail from excess of strain or otherwise, and require special machinery for their adjustment.

' My invention is simple and durable, and, be-

ing practically in one piece, cannot get out of' place, and is easily adjusted by any onewho can put together a common miter-joint.

Referring to the drawings, where similar letters indicate similar parts, Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 show two open grooves or slots, a a, in the plate A, which are parallel to the sides of the wedge B, as seen in the under side of the plate A, Fig.1.

The wedge may be of any required thickness; hut the angle of the slots in the'plate must coincide with the angle formed by the sides of the wedge.

The wooden frame being joined with small brads at the'outer angles, to facilitate adjustment, Fig.4 will display the method of adjusting the stretcher-key to the ruiter-joint. C cc are guiding-points of contact. The instrumentis fastened to the stretcher-frame bythe screws b b through the slots a a, the wedge having its point at the inner angle of the frame.

Figs. 5 and 6 show the stretcher-key in operation. In this instance thekey has been driven forward,so that the wedge has entered halfits length into the ruiter-joint and the screw-heads reoiprocally have gained a posithe whole force of the wedge will he needed,

AARON D. SHATTUCK.

Witnesses:

H. W. EGGLEs'roN, `NED E. KENDALL. 

